Combination fuse and bomb



July 2, 1929. H. M. BRAYTON COMBINATION FUSE AND BOMB Filed March 2, 1925 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIC'E.

HAROLD M. BRAYTON, OF DOVER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SECRETARY OF WAR OF THE UNITED STATES.

COMBINATION FUSE AND Bonn.

Application filed March 2, 1925. Serial No. 12,783.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS A'MEIiTDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757.)

nature and character of the target together with the object to be obtained controls the 1 type of fuse ,to be employed. Because of the different actions which must be provided for,

it is obviously a considerable advantage and convenience, both in fabrication and distribution, to combine in a single fuse elements which may be selectively functioning to meet varying conditions.

According to the present invention, the fuse is provided with a plurality of powder trains adapted to produce instantaneous and vary-' ing delay actions when functioned by a single firin pin whose position with respect to the pow er trains may be readily adjusted even after a bomb has been placed in its rack on the plane.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide a fuse which may be assembled to the bomb with the rear cap and stabilizer in place; to arrange the central assembly so that the firing pin may be set without danger of firing any of the primers; to provide means for successively arming first the firing pin and then the detonator; to so construct the various elements that their manufacture and assembly may be cheaply and easily accomplished by relatively unskilled workmen and to so design the fuse that the one really dangerous element, namely the booster, is the last unit to be assembled.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a fuse constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the bolt in armed position.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference;

In carrying out the invention, the bomb consists, prior to assembly of the fuse, of a shell 6 on which is fixed a rear cap 7 having the usual stabilizers (not shown). The shell and the cap are suitably apertured to permitinsertlon of a fuse, the inner end of which is dlsposed in a fuse seat liner 9 which is preferably assembled to the shell prior to fusing the bombs. The fuse consists of a body 10 threadable 1n the aperture in the shell and flanged as at 11 to rest upon the shell when in place. Arranged in the body equi-distant from its axis are a plurality of powder trains 12, 12' and 12" respectively affording instantaneous action and delay intervals of .1 second and 1.2 second.

Both ends of the fuse body are provided with large cavities, that on the inner end,

receiving in order a block 13 retained in place by a booster container '14. Mounted for slidable movement in the block perpendicular to the axis of the fuse is a cylindrical bolt 15 containing a primer 16 and a detonator 17 The bolt is normally held in the unarmed position by means of a rod 18 passing axially throu h the fuse body and withdrawable during fiig it of the bomb as will be described hereinafter. When the rod is withdrawn a sufficient distance to clear the bolt, the bolt is impelled to armed position by springs 19 where it is seecurely held by a spring pressedpin 20 mounted in the block 13. A thumb screw 21 may be provided as an additional precaution to hold the bolt in the unarmed position during storage and transportation. This screw will of course be removed before-inserting the fuse in the shell.

Mounted for both longitudinal and rotahousing is provided with a bayonet slot 26 having spaced notches 27 corresponding in number and relative position to the powder trains 12, 12 and 12" and an additional notch 28 corresponding to a safety setting wherein the firing pin is not in line with any of the powder trains. A pin 29 mounted in the stationary fuse body projects into the bayonet slot and serves, when engaged in any of the notches, to lock the housing against rotation while permitting longitudinal movement thereof.

In the chamber 23 of the housing is placed a plunger 30 carrying a firing pin 31 disposed in an aperture in the housing and provided with the usual spring 32. The plunger is constrained to be rotated in unison with the housing by means of a pin 33 fixed in the housing and disposed in a longitudinal groove in the plunger. This pin is provided to prevent distortion of the firing pin during rotation of the housing and plunger and in order to preserve exact alignment of the firing pin and when set above one of the primers. In order to provide for movement of the housing 22, and with it, the plunger, there is secured to the outer member of the housing, a sleeve 34, whereby the firing pin may be selectively manipulated to the safe position or to position above any of the powder trains, suitable graduations being provided on visible portions of the assembly to indicate the setting. Setting of the fuse is accomplished by merely pressing in on the sleeve 34 until the pin 29 is disposed inthe slot 26 whence the entire central assembly may be rotated until the desired notch is in register with the pm. On release of the sleeve the spring 24 will return the entire central assembly to initial position, the pin 29 entering the selected notch to prevent rotation of the housing and to lock the firing pin in the desired relation with respect to the powder trains. This operation may be repeated at will, even though the bomb be fused and secured in its rack on the plane.

The rod 18 which is provided for holding the bolt 15 in unarmed position, is threaded in the inner member of the housing 22 and terminates in a key 35 receivable in a slot or groove 36 in the inner end of a spindle 37 located within the sleeve 34, and'threaded in both the plunger and the upper member of the housing. The outer end of the spindle carries a vane assembly 38 of any suitable t pc and functioning during flight of the bom to unscrew the spindle and arm the plunger, the

spindle usually being completely removed from the bomb.

During the setting operation, the spindle, by reason of its engagement with the plunger and its unitary movement with the entire central assembly, positively prevents the firing pin from striking the primers of the powder trains. As the spindle is unscrewed arming the plunger,-it causes similar action of the rod18 thereby releasing the bolt to armed position. It will be noted that when the spindle has cleared the plunger, the rod will not yet have cleared the bolt so that should the spring 32 which restrains the now armed plunger be broken or should the plunger accidentally function to ignite one of the powder trains the flame therefrom will not reach the detonator in the bolt so as to explode the bumb directly underneath the plane.

As a means of firmly securing and closing the rear cap 7 of the bomb a tubular member 39 is threadedly attached to the rear end of the fuse body. Embracing this tube is a loose collar 40, which, when held in place against the cap by a nut 41, is prevented from rotating by a pin 42.

Secured to the setting sleeve 34 at the mouth of the tube 39 is a collar 43 which receives a thumb screw 44 passing through the tube and serving when in place to prevent movement of the setting sleeve and the central assembly. The fuse is issued with the firing pin in the safe position and the firing pin can not be moved in line with a primer until this thumb screw is removed.

I claim:

1. A fuse for bombs including a body, a plurality of spaced powder trains arranged in the body equidistant from its axis and adapted to afford instantaneous and varying delay actions, a housing mounted in the outer end of the body for both longitudinal and rotational movement, said housing provided with a slot having a plurality of notches, a ring for retaining the housing, a spring for normally maintaining the housing in spaced relation with respect to the body, a sleeve secured to the housing, a pin mounted in the body and selectively engageable in the notches of the housing to lock it against rotation, a plunger mounted in the housing for rotation therewith, a plunger spring, a firing pin carried by the plunger and having its point end disposed in an aperture in the housing, an axial spindle within the sleeve and threaded to the housing and plunger, a vane assembly for unthreading the spindle to arm the plunger, removable means for holding the sleeve and housing against movement, a transverse bolt slidably mounted in the inner end of the body,

a detonator therein, an axial rod for holding the bolt in unarmed position, said rod threaded in the housing and adapted to be unthreaded by the spindle to release the bolt to armed position after the plunger has been armed.

2. A fuse for bombs including a body, a plurality of spaced powder trains arranged in the body and adapted to aiford instantaneous and varying delay actions, a housing 'mounted in the outer end of the body for both longitudinal and rotational movement, said housing provided with a slot having a plurality of notches, a ring for retaining the housing, a

spring for normally maintaining the housing in spacedrelation with respect to the body, a sleeve secured to the housing, a pin mounted in the body and selectively engageable in the notches of the housing to lock it against rotation, a plunger mounted in the housing for rotation therewith, a plunger spring, a firing pin carried by the plunger and having its point end disposed in an aperture in the housing, a spindle within the sleeve and threaded to the housing and plunger, a vane assembly for unthreading the spindle to arm the plunger, a transverse bolt slidably mounted in the inner end of the body, a detonator therein, a

. rod for holding the bolt in unarmed position,

said rod threaded in the housing and adapted to be unthreaded by the spindle to release the bolt to armed position.

3. A fuse for bombs including a body, a plurality of spaced powder trains arranged in 1 the body and adapted to afford instantaneous and varying delay actions, a housing mounted n the outerend of the body for both longitudinal and rotational movement, said housing provided with a slot having a plurality of notches, a ring for retaining the housing, a spring for normally maintaining the housing in spaced relation with respect to the body, a sleeve secured to the housing, a pin mounted in the body and selectively engageable in the notches of the housing to lock it against rotation, a plunger mounted in the housing for retating therewith, a plunger spring, a firing pin carried by the plunger and having its point end disposed in an aperture in the housing, a spindle within the sleeve and threaded to the housing and plunger, and a vane assembly for unthreading the spindle to arm the plunger.

4. A fuse including a body, aplurality of spaced powder trains arran ed in the body and adapted to afford varying burning intervals, a housing mounted in the outer end of the body for both longitudinal and rotational movement, a ring for retaining the housing, resilient means for maintaining the housings in spaced relation with respect to the body, means for moving the housing, means for locking the housing in set position, removable means for preventing movement of the housing, a plunger mounted in the housing for rotation therewith, a plunger spring, a firing pin carried by the plunger and having its point end disposed in an aperture of the housing, means for normally holding the plunger in unarmed position and removable during flight to arm the plunger.

5. A fuse including a body, a plurality of spaced powder trains arranged in the body and adapted to afford varying burning intervals, a housing mounted in the outer end of the body for both longitudinal and rotational movement, a ring for retaining the housing, resilient means for maintaining the housing in spaced relation with respect to the body, means for moving the housing, means for locking the housing in set position, a plunger mounted in the housing for rotation therewith, a plunger spring, a firing pin carried by the plunger, and means for normally holding the plunger in unarmed position and removable during flight to arm the plunger.

(3. A fuse including a body, a powder train in the body, a housing on one side of the powder train, a plunger including a firing pin within the housing, a plunger spring, a transversely slidable bolt including an explosive element disposed on the other side of the powder train, an axial spindle threaded to the housing and plunger, a rod threaded in the housing and adapted to normally hold the bolt in unarmed position, means on the spindle for unthreading the spindle and rod during flight to successively arm first the plunger and then the bolt.

7. In combination with a bomb including a rear cap formed with an aperture, a fuse insertable through the cap and securable to the bomb, an exteriorly projecting sleeve for setting the fuse and a spindle within the sleeve and removable during flight to arm the fuse.

8. In combination with a bomb including a rear cap formed with an aperture, a fuse insertable through the cap and securable to the bomb, and means projecting exteriorly of the cap for setting the fuse.

HAROLD M. BRAYTON. 

